The announcement of monthly free food grains, on the National Food Security Act, for 16.64 lakh households with 66.82 lakh beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir is an important intervention for fighting food diffidence in the region.
The intervention shows seriousness from the government so that no family goes to bed in hunger. It is commendable in its own right; but, much will depend on effective and transparent implementation of the program, along with resolving many underlying systemic issues.
The NFSA is a 2013 Act which is aimed at subsidizing food grains to about two-thirds of the population of India, especially to the vulnerable sections. Therefore this extension of the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir is a notable intervention.
The number of households involved is sizeable and shows the government’s seriousness to relieve hunger from millions and improve their livelihoods.
First, it must be ensured that the identification of households as beneficiaries is transparent and inclusive. Past experiences with welfare schemes, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, has tragically often kept the most vulnerable from receiving aid because they were misidentified, and excluded from food aid programs as ineligible.
The government would want to utilize GPS-tracked supply trucks and can do so by a digital platform in use which monitor in real time.
This is also about accountability and efficiency amongst implementation. Part of this is also about supporting local agricultural promoted sustainable livelihoods and strengthening their economies – Farmers would need less food assistance and begin to layer resilience into other sources of shocks, with greatest support provided to improve irrigation or crop diversification.
Food security is not merely around food supply based on a numbers system. It is about dignity with stability. It would be a welcomed initiative for the extension of the NFSA to 66.82 lakh beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir. The extent of which the implementation of this initiative is addressed by the government will directly reflect the success of the initiative.
